The skin on your face and neck gradually loses its elasticity as you age, even if you maintain a healthy diet and vigorous workout routine. This is because aging—and genetics—can decrease your collagen and elastin supply, allowing sagging, fine lines, and wrinkles to set in. If you are wondering about the best treatment for facial skin tightening and volumizing, several procedures can help, including JUVÉDERM®, Ultherapy®, Sculptra® Aesthetic, and facelift surgery.
How JUVÉDERM Helps With Facial Skin Tightening
JUVÉDERM is an FDA-approved injectable containing hyaluronic acid (HA) that can smooth out fine lines and wrinkles on your face, making it look fuller and tighter. HA is a naturally occurring substance in your skin that plumps and hydrates your face. This injectable fills in smile lines, lip lines, marionette lines, and lip volume.
A JUVÉDERM procedure can be done in as little as 15 to 60 minutes with minimal discomfort. Your provider will administer lidocaine to keep you comfortable during the procedure.
What Results Can I Expect With JUVÉDERM?
You may notice a difference in your skin right after the procedure! Your skin may appear smooth and volumized with a more youthful appearance. However, the full effects of JUVÉDERM will not show until about 2 weeks after the procedure, as your skin needs time to heal and settle.
The longevity of your results will depend on the area treated. Most men and women can enjoy their results for up to 1 year with only one treatment session needed. As your results start to wear off, you can speak to your provider about scheduling another session.
However, a note of caution: JUVÉDERM will not technically tighten your skin, and long-term use may loosen the skin. If you want to physically tighten loose skin, you may find better results with a facelift.
How Ultherapy® Can Achieve Facial Skin Tightening
Ultherapy is a nonsurgical facial toning procedure that works to lift and tighten the skin by stimulating collagen production using sound wave energy. This procedure can give you long-lasting results with little downtime.
This treatment is effective on all skin types as it does not impact the surface of the skin; instead, it targets the deep tissue where collagen is produced. According to Women’s Health Magazine, Ultherapy is a versatile treatment that can be used on the chin, neck, brow, and décolleté.
What Results Can I Expect With Ultherapy?
Your results from Ultherapy depend on how deep into the tissue the sound wave energy penetrates—superficial, medium, or deep. You may be able to achieve amazing results with one session, or your plastic surgeon might recommend additional sessions to get the results you want. Although it may take a few months to see your full results, you can enjoy your rejuvenated look for up to 1 year.
You can also choose to combine Ultherapy with procedures that eliminate fat deposits such as CoolSculpting®. Once CoolSculpting removes stubborn fat from areas like the jawline, you can follow up with Ultherapy to tighten the skin.
How Sculptra® Aesthetic Can Achieve Facial Skin Tightening
Sculptra Aesthetic is another injectable filler that is versatile and effective, working to bring fullness to facial lines and hollows. Sculptra stands apart from other injectable treatments by stimulating your own tissues to create more collagen.
This treatment can be effectively used for fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, and facial hollows. You may experience minimal side effects such as puffiness and bruising, but that should subside in a few days.
What Results Can I Expect With Sculptra?
Unlike JUVÉDERM, Restylane®, and other hyaluronic acid-based fillers, Sculptra contains poly-L-lactic acid, which replaces lost collagen. You likely won’t see lasting improvement right away; the beauty of Sculptra is in its long-term effects. As the weeks pass after your treatment, your wrinkles will gradually and subtly fade for natural-looking firming and rejuvenation. Even better, Sculptra results last at least 2 years.
How a Facelift Can Lift and Tighten Your Facial Skin
A facelift is the ultimate face-tightening procedure. It’s a more involved option than Sculptra Aesthetic or Ultherapy as it’s a surgical procedure, but it can work wonders for the right candidate. When getting a facelift or mini facelift, the goal is to look naturally refreshed and rested rather than taut and rigid. If you are not ready for a facelift, you can ask your plastic surgeon whether you are a candidate for a mini facelift that offers more limited tightening on the lower half of the face.
Although a facelift produces excellent results for the lower face, it can’t address issues such as forehead wrinkles, eyelid and brow laxity, or crows’ feet. Your plastic surgeon can recommend additional procedures such as an eyelid lift to complement your facelift and provide full-face skin tightening.
What Results Can I Expect from a Facelift?
You should be able to enjoy your facelift results after around 4 weeks. Most people look up to 12 years younger after a facelift. You will also be happy to know that your new, youthful appearance can last 8 to 10 years! As with any cosmetic surgery procedure, following a healthy diet, a consistent exercise routine, and a comprehensive skincare regimen is important to maintaining your facelift results.
There are many facial tightening procedures; the challenge is picking the procedure that will help you achieve your specific goals. At our plastic surgery practice, we are committed to helping men and women achieve a natural-looking rejuvenation, as seen in our before and after photos. If you are ready for a more youthful appearance, book now or call us at (404) 233-3937 to schedule an appointment.
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